Abstract: The invention provides a thermally expandable material comprising a foam composition containing: 100 parts by weight of (a) a crosslinkable polymer material; and 5 to 300 parts by weight of (b) a crystalline thermoplastic resin having oxygen in its molecule. The invention also provides a foam composition for obtaining a thermally expandable material that is expandable by heat from a compressed state, the composition comprising a crystalline thermoplastic resin formed in a predetermined shape and crosslinked.

Abstract: A printer includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing has a driver circuit board mounting an EEPROM storing control information regarding a mechanical module. The second housing is provided with a control circuit board storing a program for controlling the printer. In the printer, when the housings are assembled, the control information is available on the program, the control circuit board controls the mechanical module based on the program. Thus, in this printer, even when a component of the mechanical module has been replaced with a new one, the control circuit board can control the mechanical module smoothly based on the control information after replacement because the control information of the mechanical module is stored on in the EEPROM.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a cold-cathode lamp as a light source for image reading. The cold-cathode lamp is lit even when the image reading is not performed. A temperature detecting device detects a wall temperature of the cold-cathode lamp or a temperature that has correlation to the lamp wall temperature, and a lighting-out control device turns off the cold-cathode lamp when image reading is not being performed and when a temperature detected by the temperature detecting device is equal to or below a first predetermined temperature. In the image reading device, the image reading operation starts immediately after a user's designation under normal office conditions. As a result, the operating life of the lamp can be prolonged as much as possible.

Abstract: A body fluid sampling apparatus (A), comprising a piston (11) provided in a tubular main case (10), a first plunger rod (12) extending into the piston (11) integrally with each other; a first spring (13) elastically energzing the piston (11) toward the upper end side, a second plunger rod (15) installed in the first plunger rod (12) through a second spring (14), a lancet mounted body (16) provided on the second plunger rod (15) and having a lancet (B) mounted therein, a third spring (17) elastically energizing the lancet mounted body (16) toward the upper end side, latch mechanisms (20, 30) suppressing the second plunger rod (15) and first plunger rod (12) when the first plunger rod (12) is moved to the lower end side by he push-down of the piston (11), and a release mechanism (40) for releasing the locked state of the first plunger rod (12) and the second plunger rod (15).

Abstract: A sound absorbing structure comprising at least one porous member including a plurality of holes, and the holes are at least one kind of through holes and non-through holes. It is preferable that a plurality of porous members are stacked. It is also preferable that the holes of porous members are formed as diameter-varied holes, and an area of opening of each diameter-varied hole formed in the surface opposite to a sound source is largest and the area of opening of each the diameter-varied hole is reduced in a direction of the thickness of the porous member. Moreover, it is also preferable that the sound absorbing structure further comprises a coating film formed on at least a surface of the porous member which is opposite to a sound source wherein the holes penetrates the coating film and the porous member.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink cartridge wherein a remaining amount of ink can be detected using an optical sensor. The ink cartridge has a window, for detection of an ink remaining amount, that is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction. Inside of the ink cartridge, a preventive member is vertically provided. When the ink level is up to the window, light irradiated from the optical sensor permeates the window. Then, the light passes through the ink and reaches the preventive member. Preferably, the window is inclined approximately 20 degrees with respect to the preventive member. Accordingly, an incident angle of the light that has reached the preventive member is different from an incident angle of the light to the window. Thus, most of the light that has reached the preventive member is absorbed or is reflected by the preventive member in a direction different from the incident direction, so that the light reflected toward the optical sensor can be restricted.

Abstract: To accurately position and fix an ink cartridge on an ink cartridge mounting unit, a first engaging depression is formed in the bottom wall of the ink cartridge and a corresponding protrusion is formed in the mounting unit. Also, an ink supply port is formed in the bottom wall. When the ink cartridge is mounted on the mounting unit, the ink supply port is engaged first with an ink supply channel formed in the mounting unit and fluidly connected to the head unit. Then, the first engaging depression is brought into engagement with the corresponding protrusion in the mounting unit. A second engaging depression is further formed in the top. The engaging pawl of a locking arm engages the second engaging depression when the locking arm locks the ink cartridge to the head unit. Further, a pair of ribs is provided on the rear side wall of the ink cartridge. The ribs oppose each other with a prescribed interval.

Abstract: An exhaust control valve has a valve housing and a valve body rotatably contained within the valve housing. The valve body cooperates with the valve housing for controlling the flow of exhaust gas. A transmission member rotationally drives a valve shaft of the valve body. The valve body is formed in a cylindrical shape and coaxially with an axis line of the valve shaft. The valve body and the valve shaft are made from a one-piece body by casting. This arrangement provides an exhaust control valve for an engine having a valve body that provides excellent sealing properties, demonstrates high response to driving torque and is easy to manufacture through casting.

Abstract: In a calibration data input process, a carriage 5 is moved toward an ink sensor 19 to a prescribed position while the ink sensor 19 detecting levels of reflected light. Then the amount of reflected light is read for over a range wider than the width of the carriage 5 including a theoretical detecting position P2. An actual detecting position P1 is found based on the level of reflected light. The difference between the theoretical detecting position P2 and the actual detecting position P1 is calculated and is stored as the calibration value &agr; in a first calibration data memory M1. Accordingly, the actual detecting position P1 is set as P2 ±&agr;. The calibration value &agr; is used in a calibration process to calibrate the detecting position, so that the level of reflected light can be detected with accuracy.

Abstract: In a calibration data input process, a carriage 5 is moved toward an ink sensor 19 to a prescribed position while the ink sensor 19 detecting levels of reflected light. Then the amount of reflected light is read for over a range wider than the width of the carriage 5 including a theoretical detecting position P2. An actual detecting position P1 is found based on the level of reflected light. The difference between the theoretical detecting position P2 and the actual detecting position P1 is calculated and is stored as the calibration value &agr; in a first calibration data memory M1. Accordingly, the actual detecting position P1 is set as P2±&agr;. The calibration value &agr; is used in a calibration process to calibrate the detecting position, so that the level of reflected light can be detected with accuracy.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink cartridge wherein a remaining amount of ink can be detected using an optical sensor. The ink cartridge has a window, for detection of an ink remaining amount, that is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction. Inside of the ink cartridge, a preventive member is vertically provided. When the ink level is up to the window, light irradiated from the optical sensor permeates the window. Then, the light passes through the ink and reaches the preventive member. Preferably, the window is inclined approximately 20 degrees with respect to the preventive member. Accordingly, an incident angle of the light that has reached the preventive member is different from an incident angle of the light to the window. Thus, most of the light that has reached the preventive member is absorbed or is reflected by the preventive member in a direction different from the incident direction, so that the light reflected toward the optical sensor can be restricted.

Abstract: In an exhaust control valve having a valve housing and a valve body rotatably contained in the valve housing, a transmission member is fitted to an outer end of the valve shaft and protrudes from the outside of the valve housing. A bearing bushing for rotatably bearing an external circumferential surface of the valve shaft by its internal circumferential surface and rotatably bearing an end face of the valve body by its end face is mounted in the valve housing. The valve body is urged by load from a thrust spring for achieving a pressure contact seal condition between the opposed end faces of the bearing bush and the valve body.

Abstract: A sound absorbing structure including a film with through holes formed is laminated on a porous member having communicating voids on the side facing a sound source. At least one of the through holes has an opening area of 19 mm2 or more, and the total of the opening area accounts for 1 to 70% with respect to the area of a film formation surface on the porous member. A soundproof cover including the sound absorbing structure disposed on the inner surface of a cover main body are also provided.

Abstract: An ink jet printing head includes a common ink channel and a plurality of ejectors (each of which includes a nozzle and a pressure generation chamber which is filled with ink supplied from the common ink channel) which are connected to the common ink channel for ejecting ink drops. The common ink channel is provided with an air damper, and acoustic capacitance Cp of the common ink channel per ejector is set based on acoustic capacitance Cn of the nozzle and acoustic capacitance Cc of the pressure generation chamber. For example, the acoustic capacitance Cp of the common ink channel per ejector is set so as to satisfy two conditions: Cp>Cn and Cp>20 Cc.